Cooking vessel lid holder with drip collection apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cooking vessel lid holder and drip collection apparatus which includes wire frame front and rear upright member, an intermediate wire frame structure between the front and rear upright members, and a wire frame base supporting the upright members, all of which form a space for removable placement of a drip collection receptacle. The front and rear upright members a provided with one-way hinges so that the frame assembly collapses inwardly for storage in a typical low profile kitchen drawer.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/648,772, filed Feb. 1, 2005 (Feb. 1, 2006).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to cooking vessel lid holders,and more particularly to a cooking vessel lid holder with an apparatusfor the collection of moisture.

2. Discussion of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR §§1.97, 1.98

Commonly, cooking vessel lid holders are utilized during the cookingprocess or after washing the lid. Such lid holders typically prop thelid into a generally upright orientation, though there are many designsthat depart from this feature. Moisture, in the form of condensate orrinse water from the dish washing process, is thus allowed to drip fromthe vessel lid and collect on a counter top or stove top. The resultingmoisture must be removed from the surface. If it is allowed to collect,it can cause water spots from mineral deposits, and, in some cases causedamage to grout in tile counter tops or to wood counter tops.

Display racks and lid holders are well known in the art. In eachinstance, the holders or racks are constructed of a stand or base,suspending a cradling or hanging mechanism for the lid. The followingpatents are representative of the current art.

U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 304,280, to Leighton, teaches an ornamentaldesign for combination a pot lid holder and utensil holder.

U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 207,453, to Stocco, teaches a metal wire framepot lid holder with a rectangular base and spaced-apart arms. It holds apot lid in a generally upright orientation, but it lacks a reservoir forcatching drips, or what may be termed a “drip boat.”

U.S. Pat. No. 874,917, to Timberlake, describes a display rack forsupporting plate-like structures, and which includes a braided metalframe having decorative looped feet and spaced support legs. It maysupport a pot lid in a generally upright orientation, but it does notprovide any means for catching and collecting liquid drips.

U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 282,323, to Fetty, discloses a lid holderconstructed of two horizontal semicircles attached by vertical rods.U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,771, to Kaneshiro, discloses a lid holder comprisedof a stand and a cradle for the lid. And U.S. Design Pat. No. toKinsley, et al, shows a wire pot lid holder. However, each of thesereferences describe devices for holding a vessel lid in a generallyhorizontal position, thus obviating the need for a drip collectiondevice.

The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which thepresent inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, thesepatents is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged dutyof candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to theexamination of claims to the present invention. However, it isrespectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated patentsdisclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, eithersingly or when considered in combination, the invention described andclaimed herein. Specifically, the aforementioned patents do not teach acooking vessel lid holder that incorporates an apparatus to capturemoisture. Further, none of the aforementioned patents teaches,discloses, or suggests a cooking vessel lid holder having hinged framemembers that enable folding of the apparatus for storage in a kitchendrawer having a typical depth. A need remains, therefore, for anapparatus that elegantly, simply, and conveniently supports a vessel lidin an upright orientation while simultaneously collecting moisturerunning vertically off the lid surfaces, and further having means tocollapse the lid holder for storage in a drawer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cooking vessel lid holder with a removabledrip collection receptacle. In a first preferred embodiment, the presentinvention comprises a frame assembly including two vertically disposedrod members comprising a front and a rear upright for supporting aleaning cooking vessel lid or other plate-like article. The uprights aredimensioned to hold lids falling within the range of sizes used on potsand pans found in an ordinary residential kitchen; i.e., between roughly4 inches and 12 inches in diameter. However, it will be understood thatthere is nothing imperative in the particular or desired sizes, as thenovel features of the present invention pertain to such apparatus in anysize. Additionally, the present invention is not adapted for usestrictly with round plate-like articles. Any suitably sized generallyplanar article could be supported in the inventive apparatus, whetherround, square, or alternatively shaped.

The front and rear uprights of the inventive apparatus each have upperand lower portions, the lower portions forming a configurationcomprising a base permitting the frame assembly to be placed on a flatsurface so that the entire assembly is a substantially upright position.Each upright further includes first and second arms which extendupwardly and slightly outwardly from the base portion to the upperportion. The rear upright preferably includes a transverse stabilizingrod which extends between its arms and may also include structure whichfacilitates removable placement of the apparatus on a wall hook.

Preferably the rear upright bends at its lower portion into an integralfoot extending forwardly to and beyond a lower bend formed at the lowerportion of the front upright member. The lower bend of the front uprightand the foot of the rear upright may be welded or otherwise affixed toprovide increased stability.

Additionally, the frame assembly includes first and second roundedshoulders, each comprising a truncated oval, and each shoulder havinginterior ends welded to the front and rear uprights to create a rigidframe structure. The shoulders also cooperate with the uprights toprovide means for capturing and retaining a drip collection receptacle,or drip boat, which is employed to hold the lower portion of the lid'srim and to collect condensation or liquid which runs off the vessel lid.

When laid on either its front or rear upright members, the frameassembly is small enough to fit within a conventionally sized kitchendrawer. However, in an alternative embodiment, the front and rearuprights include hinges in each arm to allow folding of the rear armsforwardly and the front arms rearwardly, thus creating a compact framestructure suitable to placement in shallow or low profile drawer.

Finally, the inventive apparatus includes hinges in both the front andrear upright members that allow for selective folding of the apparatusfor storage in a low profile kitchen drawer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved cooking vessel lid holder suitable for holding cooking vessellids or other plate-like objects in an generally upright orientation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved cooking vessel lid holder having means to capture and collectdrips from water or other liquid runoff from the surfaces of a lid orplate.

A further object or feature of the present invention is a new andimproved cooking vessel lid holder that collapses for easy storage in aconventional kitchen drawer.

Other novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as toorganization and method of operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof will be better understood from the followingdescription considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawingsare for illustration and description only and are not intended as adefinition of the limits of the invention. The various features ofnovelty that characterize the invention are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of thisdisclosure. The invention does not reside in any one of these featurestaken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of itsstructures for the functions specified.

Certain terminology and derivations thereof may be used in the followingdescription for convenience in reference only, and will not be limiting.For example, words such as “upward,” or “upwardly”, “downward,” or“downwardly”, “left,” and “right” would refer to directions in thedrawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similarly,words such as “inward”, “inwardly”, and “outward” or “outwardly” wouldrefer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometriccenter of a device or area and designated parts thereof. References inthe singular tense include the plural, and vice versa, unless otherwisenoted.

There has thus been broadly outlined the more important features of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof that followsmay be better understood, and in order that the present contribution tothe art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which thisdisclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designingof other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the severalpurposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that theclaims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar asthey do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed seven (7) sheets of drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is an upper front left perspective view of the cooking vessellid holder with a drip collector, shown with a lid (in phantom) leaningagainst a rear upright member and having its rim disposed in the dripcollector;

FIG 1B is an upper perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1A, shownwithout the lid;

FIG. 2 is an exploded front upper left perspective view of the apparatusof FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a left side view in elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3B is a left side view in elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1B,showing how the front and rear uprights each fold inwardly to create acollapsed configuration;

FIG. 3C is a detailed view of a preferred hinge type disposed on thefront and rear upright members;

FIG. 4 is a front view in elevation of the inventive apparatus with thedrip boat included;

FIG. 5 is a detailed front view in elevation showing rear and frontright hinges, respectively; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the inventive apparatus in the foldedconfiguration.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100 present invention generally-   110 frame assembly-   120 front upright-   130 rear upright-   150 cooking vessel lid-   160 upper portion of front upright-   170 upper portion of rear upright-   180 lower portion of front upright-   190 lower portion of rear upright-   200 base-   210 a front rounded bend-   210 b rear rounded bend-   220 foot member-   230 first arm of front upright-   240 second arm of front upright-   250 first arm of rear upright-   260 second arm of rear upright-   270 transverse stabilizing rod-   280 hook capturing structure-   310 right shoulder-   310 a front interior end of right shoulder-   310 b rear interior end of right shoulder-   320 left shoulder-   320 a front interior end of left shoulder-   320 b rear interior end of left shoulder-   330 space defined by uprights, shoulders, and base-   340 drip boat-   350 a, 350 b front upright one-way hinges-   360 a, 360 b rear upright one-way hinges

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a newand improved cooking vessel lid holder with a moisture collectionapparatus, generally denominated 100 herein.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1A through 2, it will be seen thatthe present invention is essentially a frame assembly 110 including twovertically disposed rod members comprising a front upright 120 and arear upright 130 for supporting a leaning cooking vessel lid 150. Theuprights are dimensioned to hold lids falling within the range of sizesused on pots and pans found in an ordinary residential kitchen; i.e.,between roughly 4 inches and 12 inches in diameter. However, it will beunderstood that there is nothing imperative in the particular or desiredsizes, as the novel features of the present invention pertain to suchapparatus in any size.

The front and rear uprights each have an upper portion 160, 170,respectively, and a lower (or base) portion 180, 190, respectively. Thelower portions of the front and rear uprights, respectively, eachpreferably include rounded integral bends 210 a, 210 b, which attach attwo or more points to an oval or rounded foot member 220 to form a base200 which facilitates upright placement of the frame assembly on a flatsurface. The foot member preferably extends both outwardly and beyondthe lowest portion of the bend in the front upright to form a frontstabilizing portion 220 a, and outwardly and beyond the lowest portionof the bend in the rear upright to form a rear stabilizing portion 220b. The lower bends of the upright members and the foot member may beintegral, welded as separate pieces, or otherwise formed and affixed toone another to provide increased structural rigidity and stability.

Each of the front and rear uprights is formed of first and second arms230, 240, and 250, 260, which extend upwardly and slightly outwardlyfrom the base portions 180, 190 to the upper portions 160, 170. The rearupright preferably includes a transverse stabilizing rod 270 whichextends between its arms and may also include hook capturing means orstructure 280 which facilitates removable placement of the apparatus ona wall hook.

The frame assembly further includes right and left rounded shoulders310, 320, respectively, protecting outwardly and to the sides of theupright members. Each shoulder comprises a partial oval shape akin to atruncated oval. Each is formed from rounded rod members which haveinterior ends 310 a, 310 b, and 320 a, 320 b, terminating at and weldedto the front and rear uprights to complete the rigid frame structure.The shoulders, uprights, and base elements collectively define a space330 which accepts and retains an elongate drip boat 340. The drip boathold the lower portion 150 a of the lid's rim, and it also collectscondensation or liquid that runs downwardly and off the vessel lid underthe influence of gravity.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A to 6, in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the front and rear uprights include one-way hinges,350 a, 350 b, and 360 a, 360 b, respectively, disposed in lower portionof each arm to allow folding of the rear arms forwardly and the frontarms rearwardly. This provides the user with a more compact framestructure that can be placed in a shallow drawer.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill inthe art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode ofpracticing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. Whilethere is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferredembodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the inventionto the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operationshown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions,changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the artand may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spiritand scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternativematerials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms,functions, operational features or the like.

Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined bythe appended claims.

1. A cooking vessel lid holder and drip collection apparatus, comprising: front and rear upright members, each having upper and lower portions; intermediate structure interposed between said front and rear upright members so as to define a space for the removable capture of a drip collection receptacle; and a drip collection receptacle disposed in the space defined by said intermediate structure and said front and rear upright members.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including capturing means for hanging said apparatus from a wall-mounted hook.
 3. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said rear upright member includes right and left arms and said capturing means comprises a transverse wire rod member interposed between said right and left arms.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said front and rear upright members include one-way hinges to allow said upright members to collapse inwardly toward one another into a low profile configuration.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intermediate structure includes a base member for supporting said front and rear upright members in a generally vertical orientation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intermediate structure includes right and left shoulders.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intermediate structure includes a base member and right and left shoulders.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base member is formed from the attachment of said lower portions of said upright members to a foot member.
 9. A plate and lid holder for supporting plates and lids in a generally upright orientation, said apparatus comprising: two vertically disposed rod members, including a front upright a rear upright, each having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portions including integral bends; a foot member attached at a plurality of points to each of said integral bends in said lower portions of said front and rear uprights; and a drip collection and container structure interposed between said front and rear uprights.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said foot member includes a front stabilizing portion extending outwardly and beyond said integral bend in said lower portion of said front upright, and a rear stabilizing portion extending outwardly and beyond said integral bend in said lower portion of said rear upright.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said front and rear uprights includes first and second arms extending upwardly and angling outwardly from said lower portions to said upper portions.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said rear upright includes a transverse stabilizing rod interposed between its first and second arms.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further including hook capturing means.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, further including right and left shoulders.
 15. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said shoulders comprise partly arcuate rod members having interior ends terminating at and connected to both front and rear uprights.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said front and rear uprights, said foot member, and said shoulders cooperate to define a space for removable placement of a said drip collection and container structure.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9, further including hinge elements in said front and rear uprights which allow said uprights to be folded toward one another.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said hinges are disposed in said lower portion of said front and rear uprights.
 19. A cooking vessel lid support, comprising: a wire frame assembly having front and rear upright members; a base member for supporting said front and rear upright members in a substantially vertical orientation; and a drip collection receptacle disposed between said front and rear upright members.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said front and rear upright members each include at least one one-way hinge, such that said upright members may be collapsed inwardly toward one another. 